Optimal network topology of relative navigation and communication for navigation sharing in fractionated spacecraft cluster Original Research Article

Navigation sharing as a key technology provides orbit and attitude information broadcasting for the whole fractionated spacecraft cluster (FSC). The navigation sharing concept has already been proposed for some years. However, the problem of achieving the optimal navigation sharing by designing the proper network topology is still unsolved, especially in the case that some members of the cluster have absolute navigation devices, some just have relative navigation devices and some only have communication devices. In this paper, a comprehensive model of describing the navigation sharing problem in FSC is proposed. The model of network topology constructing by relative navigation links and communication links is established. By using the graph theory and genetic algorithm as the tool, the conditions for navigation sharing in FSC with different sharing degrees are obtained. Finally, some examples are presented to test the methods, and it has been found that, the absolute positions and attitudes of all the members can still be determined even some members in FSC have no absolute navigation devices.